Thursday, November 11
That Old Time Religion, Ever New
Sr. Joan Thompson, diocesan Liturgical Consultant, meets YHWH, the Great and Transcendent I AM, Lord of History, in her following critique of His draft of liturgical practices, Exodus 40, submitted in His bid for liturgical design consultant certification with the diocese.
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"On the first day of the first month you shall erect the Dwelling of the meeting tent."
A strong start, especially with the words "meeting tent." Keep in mind, however, not to focus too much on this actual tent; ensure, Elohim, that you ordain minimal decoration, or else it may distract the assembly from the rites at hand. Confer the bishops' document for the construction of tents, "Built of Living Sheets and Poles."
"Put the ark of the commandments in it, and screen off the ark with the veil."
I'm afraid that a veil is clearly not in line with your attempt of convenantal-worship renewal. No veil.
"Bring in the table and set it."
Points for the word "table," but ideally, You would have specified that the table should be set up in such a way that all the people of Israel can gather around it. You mean a free-standing table, I assume.
"Put the golden altar of incense--"
Whoa, Eternal Lord! Not so fast. We don't do incense anymore -- didn't you get that memo? Potpourri has similar olfactory effects, without the baggage that incense carries.
"Put the altar of holocausts in front of the entrance of the Dwelling of the meeting tent."
While that is the venerable European tradition for the construction of "altars of holocaust," I would consider shifting the altar a bit off to one side, rather than straight in the middle. By constructing it to the right of center, you can also allow for the Torah lectern to be situated on an equal footing, emphasizes the dual nature of covenantal worship as word-and-bloody offering. Additionally, the rigid, overly-formal visual impact of a dead-centered altar may reduce a spirit of truly human joy and spontaneity in worship-place.
"Set up the court round about, and put the curtain at the entrance of the court."
Excellent! You know, more and more nomadic tents of worship are being redesigned in-the-round. Consider leaving out the curtain, however: you want to portray the image of a welcoming faith community, and the curtain could easily become a psychological blockade barring the entrance of the questioning or unsure.
"Take the anointing oil and anoint the Dwelling and everything in it, consecrating it and all its furnishings, so that it will be sacred."
I appreciate Your generous use of sacred sign by anointing everything with oil, clearly avoiding the logic of minimalism that has marred such celebrations in the past. However, I take issue with Your premise: all creation is equally sacred, so it is wrong to suggest, as You do, that such an anointing will make the tent any more or less sacred -- unless, that is, you are referring simply to the social construct of "sacredness," by which the community is setting aside this sacred space for itself as special and unique.
"Anoint the altar of holocausts and all its appurtenances, consecrating it, so that it will be most sacred."
Again, YHWH, I really have to stress that the entire tent is equally and wholly sacred. This hierarchically ordered notional of holiness is entirely unjustified--unless you are referring, perhaps, the people gathered; it may be argued that the people present in your "meeting tent" are the most sacred, as we are indeed called to be a people set apart to serve the poor.
"Then bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance of the meeting tent, and there wash them with water. Clothe Aaron with the sacred vestments and anoint him, thus consecrating him as my priest."
Oh, my. I assume that You've made a mistake, Lord. Sure You, ominscient as You are, realize that we are all incorporated into a universal priesthood! This notion of uniquely consecrated priesthood is positively medieval, and should have no place in this liturgy. Perhaps we could refer to Aaron, if we must, as the presider?
"Bring forward his sons also, and clothe them with the tunics. As you have anointed their father, anoint them also as my priests."
I'm sensing a problematic pattern, Eternal Light. This consistent emphasis on Aaron and his sons...
"Moses did exactly as the LORD had commanded him."
This also concerns me greatly. Bishop Sklba has written a column on the heresy of Rubricism, perhaps you should read it, Eternal Word. And talk to this Moses about learning to adapt his liturgical actions -- the community's liturgical actions --more to the present circumstances, so that they can learn to "be" liturgically in the context of what is more relevant and familiar to them, as opposed to what some old guy in Rom-- er, Jerusalem, prescribes. He really should be thinking for himself at his age. I thought we had solved the problem of believers infantalized by such meaningless dictates!
"He took the commandments and put them in the ark; he placed poles alongside the ark and set the propitiatory upon it."
Could we change that p-word to offering? It, uh, it might scare people.This is getting exasperating.
"He brought the ark into the Dwelling and hung the curtain veil, thus screening off the ark of the commandments, as the LORD had commanded him."
THERE'S THAT DARN VEIL AGAIN! Thou art being positively impossible. Holy objects are made holy by the people's desire that they be holy, by the ritual-actions of the community! The whole community is consecratory and really should be allowed full and active participation in this sacred action. Mr. YHWH, tear down this veil!!
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As it happens, YHWH was not recommended for liturgical certification, and it was heavily emphasized that in no way should the Eternal Word be allowed to exercise a liturgical ministry. "It would be an un-ending, unbloody, holy mess..." she was heard to mutter.
Sr. Joan Thompson, diocesan Liturgical Consultant, meets YHWH, the Great and Transcendent I AM, Lord of History, in her following critique of His draft of liturgical practices, Exodus 40, submitted in His bid for liturgical design consultant certification with the diocese.
------
"On the first day of the first month you shall erect the Dwelling of the meeting tent."
A strong start, especially with the words "meeting tent." Keep in mind, however, not to focus too much on this actual tent; ensure, Elohim, that you ordain minimal decoration, or else it may distract the assembly from the rites at hand. Confer the bishops' document for the construction of tents, "Built of Living Sheets and Poles."
"Put the ark of the commandments in it, and screen off the ark with the veil."
I'm afraid that a veil is clearly not in line with your attempt of convenantal-worship renewal. No veil.
"Bring in the table and set it."
Points for the word "table," but ideally, You would have specified that the table should be set up in such a way that all the people of Israel can gather around it. You mean a free-standing table, I assume.
"Put the golden altar of incense--"
Whoa, Eternal Lord! Not so fast. We don't do incense anymore -- didn't you get that memo? Potpourri has similar olfactory effects, without the baggage that incense carries.
"Put the altar of holocausts in front of the entrance of the Dwelling of the meeting tent."
While that is the venerable European tradition for the construction of "altars of holocaust," I would consider shifting the altar a bit off to one side, rather than straight in the middle. By constructing it to the right of center, you can also allow for the Torah lectern to be situated on an equal footing, emphasizes the dual nature of covenantal worship as word-and-bloody offering. Additionally, the rigid, overly-formal visual impact of a dead-centered altar may reduce a spirit of truly human joy and spontaneity in worship-place.
"Set up the court round about, and put the curtain at the entrance of the court."
Excellent! You know, more and more nomadic tents of worship are being redesigned in-the-round. Consider leaving out the curtain, however: you want to portray the image of a welcoming faith community, and the curtain could easily become a psychological blockade barring the entrance of the questioning or unsure.
"Take the anointing oil and anoint the Dwelling and everything in it, consecrating it and all its furnishings, so that it will be sacred."
I appreciate Your generous use of sacred sign by anointing everything with oil, clearly avoiding the logic of minimalism that has marred such celebrations in the past. However, I take issue with Your premise: all creation is equally sacred, so it is wrong to suggest, as You do, that such an anointing will make the tent any more or less sacred -- unless, that is, you are referring simply to the social construct of "sacredness," by which the community is setting aside this sacred space for itself as special and unique.
"Anoint the altar of holocausts and all its appurtenances, consecrating it, so that it will be most sacred."
Again, YHWH, I really have to stress that the entire tent is equally and wholly sacred. This hierarchically ordered notional of holiness is entirely unjustified--unless you are referring, perhaps, the people gathered; it may be argued that the people present in your "meeting tent" are the most sacred, as we are indeed called to be a people set apart to serve the poor.
"Then bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance of the meeting tent, and there wash them with water. Clothe Aaron with the sacred vestments and anoint him, thus consecrating him as my priest."
Oh, my. I assume that You've made a mistake, Lord. Sure You, ominscient as You are, realize that we are all incorporated into a universal priesthood! This notion of uniquely consecrated priesthood is positively medieval, and should have no place in this liturgy. Perhaps we could refer to Aaron, if we must, as the presider?
"Bring forward his sons also, and clothe them with the tunics. As you have anointed their father, anoint them also as my priests."
I'm sensing a problematic pattern, Eternal Light. This consistent emphasis on Aaron and his sons...
"Moses did exactly as the LORD had commanded him."
This also concerns me greatly. Bishop Sklba has written a column on the heresy of Rubricism, perhaps you should read it, Eternal Word. And talk to this Moses about learning to adapt his liturgical actions -- the community's liturgical actions --more to the present circumstances, so that they can learn to "be" liturgically in the context of what is more relevant and familiar to them, as opposed to what some old guy in Rom-- er, Jerusalem, prescribes. He really should be thinking for himself at his age. I thought we had solved the problem of believers infantalized by such meaningless dictates!
"He took the commandments and put them in the ark; he placed poles alongside the ark and set the propitiatory upon it."
Could we change that p-word to offering? It, uh, it might scare people.
"He brought the ark into the Dwelling and hung the curtain veil, thus screening off the ark of the commandments, as the LORD had commanded him."
THERE'S THAT DARN VEIL AGAIN! Thou art being positively impossible. Holy objects are made holy by the people's desire that they be holy, by the ritual-actions of the community! The whole community is consecratory and really should be allowed full and active participation in this sacred action. Mr. YHWH, tear down this veil!!
------
As it happens, YHWH was not recommended for liturgical certification, and it was heavily emphasized that in no way should the Eternal Word be allowed to exercise a liturgical ministry. "It would be an un-ending, unbloody, holy mess..." she was heard to mutter.
![[SMMMHDH]](http://www.mgilleland.com/music/smmmhdh.png){kind=small}
